TENNANT -- Lori Teachout moved to the Tennant area in 1968 when she started the first grade. Teachout attended school at the Shelby-Tennant School District, and graduated from the high school of Shelby-Tennant with a goal to start work as soon as possible.    In order to become more qualified, Teachout decided to attend Iowa Western Community College for a single year, studying child development.

    REGIONAL -- James Sheehan is the proud owner of Patriot’s Choice, a veteran owned business that remodels houses, businesses and also specializes in foundation work.    Sheehan is a Harlan native who joined the Marines in 2007.  He left the Marines in 2011 after he was injured, moving to Oklahoma  where he began working on carpentry and started his work with construction.    “I got out of the military after I was injured,” Sheehan said.

    COUNTY -- Beginning in 2020, U.S. Highway 59 from Harlan to Avoca will undergo construction for needed repairs.    The project is part of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s five-year Iowa Transportation Improvement Program, which was released this summer.

    REGIONAL -- After a late planting season, crops in Iowa have started to sprout up and bloom across the vast number of fields in Iowa. However, the month of August will prove to be the deciding factor for many farmers across the state. According to Iowa State Field Agronomist Michael Witt, Iowa has received cooler than average normal temperatures during the month of August.

    IRWIN -- 4-H has been a staple for many families in the Shelby County area. The organization has provided many families with the opportunity to work on projects, present livestock and learn many social skills which will help later in life.    No one knows this more than Larry Knudson, whose family has had four generations worth of 4-Hers dating back to his mother. “My whole family was involved in 4-H,” Knudson said.

    HARLAN -- The Harlan Community Schools has 10 new teachers/administrators to start the new school year. 

    HARLAN -- Harlan appears to be on a downward trend in crimes committed in the city. According  to statistics on Areavibes.com, showed that Harlan was 87 percent safer than other cities located in Iowa.    When compared to other United States cities, Harlan was listed as being 77 percent safer than other cities.

    COUNTY – Shelby County Auditor Mark Maxwell said this week that new legislation will be used this fall as the regular city and school elections will be combined and be held on the same day.    This will make for some changes from past school elections, in particular, with the most noticeable being polling places. 

    REGIONAL – Outstanding debt obligations for local governmental agencies increased in the past year, following the state trend that saw an overall increase in debt, according to a report released by the state treasurer’s office.    Shelby County saw it’s total debt obligations increase from $35,735,239 in 2017 to $39,402,568 in 2018.  Much of the reported debt can be attributed to the City of Harlan/Harlan Municipal Utilities and Harlan Com

    HARLAN – Harlan’s Griffin Schleimer recently completed his Eagle Scout project, constructing a full-size bocce ball court at the Harlan Community Schools Elementary building.    Schleimer, 16, the son of June and Mike Schleimer, is a junior at Harlan Community High School, has been a scout for 11 years, and is Avoca Troop 97’s 109th Eagle Scout.  He is one of only four percent of all scouts to attain the rank of Eagle Scout by earning meri

    HARLAN – A Harlan man is being accused of purchasing bomb-making materials, threatening attacks, and has been formally charged in federal court with possession of a firearm while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, according to WHOTV, Des Moines.    The station reported Wednesday that a detention hearing was to be held to determine if Blake Cooper, 50, should be detained for allegedly purchasing the materials and threatening

    HARLAN -- This week, members of the Harlan Community High School Marching Band held camp in preparation for the upcoming year. 

    HARLAN -- The National Night Out event in Harlan was a huge success Tuesday evening, August 6 with nearly 300 people turning out to meet and visit with local law enforcement, firefighters and emergency personnel.

    DEFIANCE -- Donny Dotzler was born in Defiance and has spent most of his life in the agricultural community. During his time in Defiance, Dotzler has heard a number of stories.    Dotzler’s history of Defiance came from his father, his brother, and his own firsthand experience of Defiance’s community’s construction and changes throughout the years.

    DES MOINES -- Nothing compares to state fair favorites in 2019. From the food, to the games, to the competitions, fair favorites are what make experiences at the Iowa State Fair memorable. With more than one million attendees and 11 fun-filled, action packed, can’t miss days, there are billions of fair favorites waiting for everyone at the Iowa State Fair, August 8-18.